What is a romance scam and how does it work?
A romance scam is when someone creates a fake identity, builds an online relationship with you over days or months and then uses that trust to get money. The person behind it may be a single scammer or a team working with a script, and the "relationship" is the product.
The stages are usually the same: a flattering first message, a quick move to WhatsApp, intense affection, excuses for not meeting, and then a crisis – hospital, customs, a frozen account – or an invitation to invest together. After the first payment, there is always a reason for a second one.
Veritaza cannot tell you whether someone loves you. It checks whether the photos, messages, number, email ID and name show signs that the person is not who they say they are.
How to stop it early
- Check the photos with a reverse image search before you get attached.
- Insist on a video call within the first week or two.
- Tell a friend or family member about the person – scammers isolate you by asking you to keep it secret.
- Treat any money request from someone you have never met as a scam, no matter how good the reason.
- If you have already paid, call your bank and 1930 right away and report it on cybercrime.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
- Who falls for romance scams?
- Everyone: young and old, men and women, educated and not. Scammers target loneliness, not stupidity. There is no shame in reporting.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you are talking to? Veritaza checks the photos, messages, mobile number, email ID, name and ID card, for ₹289.
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